If Charles Barkley was a free agent this summer and both the Knicks and Nets were pursuing him, he says he'd choose to sign with the Nets.
Here's why: "I'd probably take the Nets because I think they're more stable," Barkley said on a conference call to promote the American Century Championship golf tournament. "I think they've got the better supporting cast. I think (Nets GM) Sean Marks has done a fabulous job and Coach (Kenny) Atkinson has done a fabulous job. Nobody thought that team would make the playoffs and they did a fabulous job. They play hard every night. They're just more stable than the Knicks. Obviously, the Knicks are the Knicks. But from a strictly basketball standpoint, the Nets are clearly a more stable organization."
Brooklyn reached the playoffs this season after winning just 28 games the previous year. They are expected to have enough cap space to sign one max free agent and can create enough room to sign a second max free agent.
The Knicks are projected to have at least $70 million in cap space this summer, enough money to sign two max free agents.
Barkley will be playing in his 24th American Century Championship as the fan favorite and the annual longshot, available at odds of 6,000-1 in the Harrah's Tahoe Sports Book.